Objective: The pathogenesis of depression is not fully understood, but studies have suggested that higher circulating levels of C reactive protein (CRP) might relate to depression occurrence. However, due to the highly variability of individual patients' conditions, the results to date are inconsistent. Considering Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of CRP gene have also been suggested to predict plasma CRP levels. In the present study, we hypothesize that inherited CRP allelic variations may co-vary with depressive symptomatology.
Methods: We recruited patients with a diagnosis of depression, with or without family depression history. We then detected serum CRP levels, as well as genome CRP SNPs from participants of this project.
Results: We found a significantly higher circulating CRP levels in patients with a positive family history. Furthermore, we also identified certain inherited CRP SNPs (A allele in rs1417938 and C allele in rs1205) which could up-regulate serum CRP levels and thus be associated with depression occurrence.
Conclusion: Our findings raise new evidence for the relationship between circulating CRP level and depression occurrence.
Keywords: CRP; SNPs; depression; familial inheritance.